The Stylist
The Stylist is a 2020 American horror drama film written, directed, and produced by Jill Gevargizian, based on her short film of the same name. It stars Najarra Townsend and Brea Grant. The story follows Claire, a lonely hairdresser in Kansas City who secretly murders her clients and stores their scalps in a cellar to cope with deep self-loathing. When her friend Olivia asks for a stylist for her wedding, Claire tries to fit in but is mocked for being socially awkward. Unable to control her deadly urges, she kills Olivia, wears Olivia’s scalp and dress, and walks down the aisle as Olivia. The groom panics and the guests flee, leaving Claire alone in the church, crying because she still can’t have what she wants.
The Stylist premiered at Fantastic Fest on September 25, 2020, and later screened at the Final Girls Berlin Film Festival in February 2021 and the Florida Film Festival in April 2021. It was released in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom on Arrow Films’ streaming platform on March 1, 2021, and on Blu-ray, DVD, and video on demand on June 8, 2021. The Blu-ray includes extras such as the director’s short film The Stylist (2016), new shorts Pity and The Invisible Woman, plus behind-the-scenes features, outtakes, and location scouting.
Cast and crew: Najarra Townsend, Brea Grant; cinematography by Robert Patrick Stern; editing by John Pata; music by Nicholas Elert. Production companies include Sixx Tape, Claw Productions, Method Media, and The Line Film Company. Distributor: Arrow Films. Running time: 105 minutes. Language: English. Country: United States.
Reception: On Rotten Tomatoes, The Stylist holds a 90% score based on 40 critics, with praise for its style, patient build, and strong lead performance, though not all reviews were positive. Some critics highlighted its striking visuals and inventive approach to a familiar horror setup, while others offered harsher assessments.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 20:13 (CET).